Mattress and bolster system

ABSTRACT

An inflatable mattress and bolster assembly in which the mattress frame receives a series of individual inflatable air cells to form the mattress. Side bolsters are secured to the opposite long sides of the mattress frame by means of retaining straps. The air cells have end tabs that pass through holes in the side bolsters and attach the air cells to the long sides of the mattress frame. An inflatable safety rail is mounted on top of each of the side bolsters for added patient safety. The air cells, side bolsters and safety rails are all independently inflated so that they can be separately adjusted for firmness.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is directed to an air mattress and bolster system andmore particularly to a bolster system that aids in reducing injuries toa patient as a result of the patient striking the bed rails or fromrolling out of bed.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are various types of air mattresses that have a series of airtubes or air bladders to support a person. In some embodiments the airbladders have blower means to alternatively increase and decrease theair pressure in the bladders or to provide a constant air pressure tothe bladders. This is used for therapeutic treatment to the patient. Onesuch example is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,155,766. This system usesbolsters on the sides to assist in keeping the patient from rolling offthe side of the bed and to protect the patient from injuries resultingfrom striking the bed rails. However, there are shortcomings in how thebolster is secured in place relative to the mattress.

In other systems, the air mattress is provided with various inflatablezones so that some areas can be more firm and other areas less firmdepending on the needs of a patient. The blower and associated controlsystem also provide a means for maintaining a desired pressure inselected portions of the mattress when the person sits on an edge of themattress. In some designs these bolsters can be inflated and have theirown air supply systems for maintaining the desired air pressure andfirmness. One such device is illustrated in U.S. 6,240,584. However,this device does not adequately secure the side bolsters to the mattresssystem to significantly restrict the patient from rolling off the bed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The combination air mattress and bolster system has a series ofvertically oriented alternating pressure mattress air cells stackedadjacent to each other horizontally across a tub. The tub issubstantially rectangular with opposite long sides and opposite shortsides. The number of air cells determines the length of the mattress.When a sufficient number of air cells are placed next to each other theyform an air mattress. Each of the air cells has a pair of tabs at eachof its ends. A side bolster is disposed along both of the long sides ofthe tub. On the top of the bolster is a top rail or safety rail that isinflated independently of the bolster. The tabs on the air cells passthrough openings or holes in the side bolsters and fasten to fastenerson the long sides of the tub. This secures one end of the air cells toone long side of the tub and the other end of the air cells to theopposite long side of the tub. A strap or web of material extends overthe top rail and has its lower end fastened to the bottom of the tub.This secures the side bolsters adjacent to the long sides of the tub.Thus, when the patient rolls toward one side of the mattress, the sidebolsters and top rail are pulled toward the patient making it moredifficult for the patient to roll out of bed.

The air cells, the side bolsters, and the top rail are all filledindependently from each other. This allows each to be monitoredindependently and filled to different pressures and firmness. Thisunique system provides many advantages in manufacturing, inventorycontrol, and patient safety, over the prior art air mattresses.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an air mattress andbolster system that has alternating pressure mattress air cells thatextend horizontally across the mattress and have end tabs that supportthe air cells vertically. It is a related object to have the tabs passthrough the side bolsters and attach to the mattress tub.

Yet another object is to have the side bolsters drawn toward the patientwhen the patient gets closer to the side bolsters, thus assisting inkeeping the patient from rolling off of the bed.

Still another object is to have the side bolsters independently inflatedfrom the alternating pressure mattress air cells which allow thepressure in the bolsters and the air cells individually controlled. Anadvantage of this is that it allows the side bolsters to be inflated toa much higher pressure than the air cells, which otherwise would makethe air cells too firm to be comfortable.

Yet another object is to provide a separately inflated top rail abovethe side bolster to assist in keeping the patient in the bed. Thisfurther assists in keeping the patient from rolling out of bed.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent when reading theDescription of the Drawings and Description of the Preferred Embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the inventive mattress andbolster system.

FIG. 1A is an enlarged perspective view of the corner of the sidebolster and manifold of the encircled area identified in FIG. 1 as FIG.1A.

FIG. 1B is an enlarged perspective view with portions removedillustrating how the tabs extending from the alternating pressuremattress cells attach to the tub.

FIG. 1C is a cross sectional view with portions removed taken along line1C-1C of FIG. 1 illustrating the connection of the tabs to the tub.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the mattress and bolster system witha portion of the top sheet and waterproof cover removed to expose thealternating pressure mattress cells.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 withportions removed illustrating the orientation of the alternating aircells and the effect of applying a downward force on the air cells.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional end view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2illustrating the orientation of the alternating air cells, side bolstersand tub.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the side bolster.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view with portions removed of a cornerof the mattress and bolster system with the air cells removed,illustrating a means for securing the side bolster to the tub.

FIG. 6A is cross sectional view taken along line 6A-6A of FIG. 6 furtherillustrating a means to fasten the side bolster to the tub.

FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of another means to fasten the sidebolster to the tub.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the fastening mechanism illustrated inFIG. 7 for attaching one end of the bolster retaining strap around atab.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an air mattress andbolster system 10 of the present invention. Although the term “air” isoften used to describe the fluid contained in the air mattress andbolster system other gasses may also be used and the term “air” is meantto encompass all such equivalent gasses. The main components of the airmattress and bolster system 10 are a tub 12, a plurality of alternatingpressure mattress air cells 14 (referred to herein as “APM cells”), aleft side bolster 16, a right side bolster 18, and a waterproof cover20. Although the description herein refers to APM cells, other air cellsthat are of a constant pressure or the same pressure throughout can beutilized. The tub 12 is preferably made of a rigid or semi-rigid vinylmaterial to retain the rectangular shape of the air mattress and bolstersystem 10 when completely assembled. The tub 12 has a length or longside 22 and a width or short side 24. At a bottom 13 of the tub 12 isplaced a foam pad 26. On top of the foam pad 26 are placed the pluralityof APM cells 14 and the left and right side bolsters 16, 18respectively. The waterproof cover 20 is placed over the entireassembled mattress and bolster system and secured to the tub 12 as willbe described in greater detail herein.

To clearly understand how the mattress and bolster system 10 isassembled, we need to closely look at the individual components. FIGS. 5and 6 more clearly illustrate the left side bolster 16. The right sidebolster 18 is identical except turned 180 degrees when installed. Theleft side bolster 16 has left top rail 28 that extends across the top ofside bolster 16. It also wraps around the top edges and extends downopposite ends 30, 32 to the bottom of the bolster 16. The top raildefines a segregated air chamber that extends along the opposite sides30, 32 and across the top of the bolster. There is a top rail air valve34 (see FIGS. 1A and 5) that is connected to a compressed air supply(not illustrated) from which the top rail is inflated to the desiredpressure and firmness. It should be noted that there is a top rail airvalve 34 at both ends 30, 32 so that the top rail 28 can be inflatedfrom either end. Also, it allows a bolster to be used on either side ofthe mattress by just rotating the bolster 180 degrees. This reducesinventory by using one bolster on either side of the mattress. The rightside bolster 18 has a right side top rail 29 that functions and operatesin the same manner as the left side.

The left side bolster 16 has three longitudinally extending air cells orchambers, namely a top cell 36, a center cell 38 and a bottom cell 40.The three air cells are manufactured so that they are fluidly connectedat one or more areas such as illustrated as passageways 42 in FIG. 5.There is a side bolster valve 44 mounted at both ends of the left sidebolster 16 that is connected to an compressed air supply so that thethree air cells 36, 38, and 40 can be inflated. In this manner, allthree air cells 36, 38 and 40 are simultaneously inflated to the samepressure and firmness. There is an APM manifold 45 placed at the bottomof the left and right side bolsters 16, 18. This may be attached to thebottom of the bolster by means of a flexible material 47 that is part ofor separately connected to the bolsters 16, 18. Disposed along thelength of the APM manifold 45 are a series of APM manifold valves thatconnect to the APM cells 14. The APM manifold 45 is used to inflate theAPM cells 14 as will be described herein.

When the mattress system 10 is used by a patient, it is important thatthe side bolsters 16, 18 remain securely positioned adjacent to the longsides 22 of the tub 12. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6A, there is a web ofmaterial 46 that has one end attached to the long side of the tub 22 bymeans of a snap 48 or other commonly used fastener. The other end of theweb 36 is attached to the bottom 13 of the tub 12 preferably by means ofstitching 50. However, other attachment means that will accomplish thedesired purpose may also be used. In order to maintain the web 46 inplace as it passes over the top rail 28, there is a strap loop 52located on the top of the top rail 28 through which the web 46 passes.This securing system assists in preventing the bolster 16 from unwantedmovement away from the long sides 22 of the tub 22. In the alternateembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 7A, the bottom of the web 46 isconnected to a tab 54 on the APM cells. This will be described ingreater detail where the APM cells are more fully described.

There is a plurality of through holes 56 disposed in the side bolster16. The through holes 56 are arranged in two parallel rows with the toprow of through holes numbered 56A and the bottom row of through holesnumbered 56B. The number of through holes 56A or 56B should be equal toor greater than the number of APM cells 14. As illustrated in FIG. 1, ifthere are twenty APM cells 14, there preferably will be at least twentythrough holes 56A and twenty through holes 56B in the side bolster 16.Although the holes 56 pass through the side bolster 16 they are sealedaround their perimeter so that no air in the side bolster 16 leaks outof the through holes 56. The sealing can be accomplished by conventionalmethods such as glue or welding, or with the use of grommets toreinforce the through holes 56.

As seen in FIG. 1, the APM cells 14 are stacked vertically adjacent toeach other to form the mattress that supports the patient. The length ofthe mattress is easily adjusted by adding or subtracting the number ofAPM cells 14. For example, if the APM cells have a cell diameter of fourinches, and one uses twenty cells, the length of the mattress will beeighty inches.

As seen in FIG. 1, each of the APM cells 14 have upper tabs 54A andlower tabs 54B that extend out from each of the ends of the cell. Tabs54A and 54B are essentially identical to each other. At the ends of thetabs 54A and 54B are tab fasteners or tab snaps 58. The tabs 54A and 54Bpass through a reinforcing strap 59 before being received bycomplementary fasteners or snaps 60 that are mounted on the long side 22of the tub 12. At the bottom of each APM cell 14 is a valve or inletthat is connected to an APM manifold valve 49. As seen in FIG. 1, everyother APM cell 14 is connected to the APM manifold located along thebottom of the left side bolster 16 and every other APM cell 14 isconnected to the APM manifold located along the bottom of the right sidebolster 18. In this manner one-half of the APM cells 14 are inflatedfrom the left APM manifold 45 and one-half of the APM cells 14 areinflated from the right APM manifold 45.

When the air mattress and bolster system 10 is assembled, foam pad 26 isfirst inserted into the tub 12. The web 46 is passed through the straploop 52 and fastened with the snap 48. Then the left side bolster 16 andright side bolster 18 are inserted into the tub 12. Each of theindividual APM cells 14 inserted into the tub. The APM cell is connectedto the APM manifold so that the cells can be inflated. The tabs 54A and54B are passed through the through holes 56A and 56B respectively,through reinforcing strap 59 and snapped or attached to their respectivefastener or snap 60. In this manner the APM cells 14 are securely anddirectly attached to the long sides 22 of the tub 12 without beingattached to the left or right side bolsters 16, 18. At the same time,the web 46 independently securely positions the left and right sidebolsters 16, 18 adjacent to the long sides 22 of the tub 12.

In the alternate embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 7A, the web offlexible material 46 does not have its lower or bottom end fastened tothe tub bottom 13. Rather, the end of the web 46 has a snap 62 at itsend so that the web 46 loops around the tab 54 and snaps onto itself. Inthis manner the web 46 creates a loop around the tab 54 to securelyattaché the bottom end of the web 46 to itself, while providing a securemeans to retain the side bolsters 16, 18 adjacent to the long side 22 ofthe tub 12. In this alternate embodiment, the web 46 is completelyremovable from the tub 12 for shipment and storage, as opposed to theprevious embodiment in which the web 46 has one end always secured tothe bottom 13 of the tub 12.

One or more air pumps or supply sources can be used to inflate andmaintain the proper air pressure and firmness in the APM cells 14, thetop rails 28, 29 and the left and right side bolsters 16, 18. As seen inFIG. 1A, there is a separate air feed or valve 34 for the top rail 28,29. There is also a separate APM manifold air feed or valve 64 that isused to inflate the APM cells 14 that are connected by means of the APMmanifold valves 49 to the APM manifold 45. As previously described,there is a side bolster valve 44 on each of the left and right sidebolsters 16, 18 so that each bolster can be inflated separately ifdesired. As the side bolsters are filled from a different source thanthe APM cells, they can be monitored separately and independentlyinflated and deflated. If the air pressure in the side bolster falls toa predetermined level, the pump is turned on and the side bolster isinflated to the proper pressure. If the system is unable to maintain theproper pressure in the bolster, an alarm sounds advising the care giverthat there is a loss of pressure in the system. As seen in FIG. 3, airis free to flow between adjacent air chambers in the APM cells as apatient lies on the waterproof cover 20. Depending on the position ofthe patient and the pressure points, the air in the APM cells 14 eitherflows from the top air chamber to the lower, equalizes between bothchambers, or flows from the lower chamber to the upper chamber.

In use, when the patient lies on the APM cells 14, and moves toward oneof the long sides 22, the tabs 54 pull on the long side 22 of the tub12. This is turn pulls the long side 22 of the tub 12 and the attachedside bolster 16, 18 with its respective top rail 28, 29 toward thepatient. This movement of the side bolsters assists in keeping thepatient in the bed rather than making it easier for the patient to rollover the top rail and out of the bed. Furthermore, by adding the toprail as an integral part of the side bolsters, yet filling it from itsown separate air source, allows the top rails to be inflated to adifferent pressure and firmness than the side bolsters to which they areattached. This allows the top rails to be inflated and deflatedindependently of the bolsters.

Thus there has been provided a combination air mattress and bolstersystem that fully satisfies the objects and advantages set forth herein.While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specificembodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of theforegoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all suchalternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

1. A mattress and bolster assembly comprising: a mattress frame having afront side, a back side, a left side, a right side, a frame bottom andan open top, the mattress frame being substantially rectangular; aplurality of inflatable air cells positioned adjacent to each other inthe mattress frame for forming a supporting air mattress, the air cellshaving opposite ends that are disposed adjacent to the left and rightsides respectively of the mattress frame when they are positioned in themattress frame; at least one tab extending from each of the oppositeends of the air cells; fastening means on each tab for attaching the tabto a side of the mattress frame; an inflatable left side bolster andinflatable right side bolster, each bolster having a front that facesinward toward the center of the mattress frame and a back that faces theleft and right side respectively, a top and a bottom, the left sidebolster positioned adjacent to the left side and the right side bolsterpositioned adjacent to the right side and the bottom of the bolsterdisposed adjacent to the frame bottom of the mattress frame; the tabextending from each of the opposite ends passing through the left andright side bolsters and fastened to the left side and right siderespectively to securely attach the air cells to the mattress frame,whereby when a vertical weight is applied to the inflatable air cells,the air cells are compressed and pull the tabs and the bolster to whichthe tabs are attached toward the center of the frame.
 2. The mattressand bolster assembly of claim 1 wherein the left and right side bolstershave a plurality of holes passing through the bolster from the front tothe back, the holes receiving the tabs which pass there through.
 3. Themattress and bolster assembly of claim 2 and further comprisingcomplementary fastening means on the left and right sides for receivingin releasable locking relationship the fastening means on the tabs. 4.The mattress and bolster of claim 2 and further comprising an inflatabletop air chamber disposed above the top of the left and right sidebolsters respectively, the top air chamber creating a heightened bolsterfor assisting in keeping a person from rolling over the bolster and offof the mattress.
 5. The mattress and bolster of claim 4 and furthercomprising a strap for securing the left and right side bolsters againstthe left and right sides respectively of the mattress frame.
 6. Themattress and bolster of claim 5 wherein the strap has one end attachedto the mattress frame side and the other end attached to the bottom ofthe frame.
 7. The mattress and bolster of claim 5 wherein the strap hasone end attached to the mattress frame side and the other end isattached to the tab extending from the air cell.
 8. The mattress andbolster of claim 2 wherein there are a pair of tabs extending out fromeach end of the air cells, with one of the tabs being an upper tab andthe other being a lower tab, each tab passing through a hole in thebolster and then being secured to the frame by means of the fasteningmean.
 9. The mattress and bolster of claim 4 and further comprising aseparate air inlet valve for inflating separately the left and rightside bolsters, the top air chamber and the air cells to achieve thedesired air pressure in each of the left side bolster, the right sidebolster, the top chambers and air cells.
 10. The mattress of claim 3wherein the fastening means comprises snaps on the tabs and frame sides.11. A mattress and bolster assembly comprising: a mattress frame havingopposite left and right long sides, a plurality of inflatable air cellspositioned adjacent to each other in the mattress frame for forming asupporting air mattress, the air cells having opposite ends that aredisposed adjacent to the opposite left and right long sides respectivelyof the mattress frame; at least one fastening tab extending from each ofthe opposite ends of the air cells; fastening means on each tab forattaching the tab to either the left or right long sides of the mattressframe; a left side bolster and right side bolster, the left side bolsterpositioned adjacent to the left long side and the right side bolsterpositioned adjacent to the right long side; the fastening tab extendingfrom each of the opposite ends of the air cell and passing throughopenings in the left and right side bolsters and fastened to the leftand right long side respectively to securely attach the air cells to themattress frame, whereby the application of a vertical weight to theinflatable air cells causes the air cells to compress and apply atensile force to the tabs and the bolster to which the tabs areattached.
 12. The mattress and bolster assembly of claim 11 and furthercomprising complementary fastening means on the left and right longsides for receiving in releasable locking relationship the fasteningmeans on the tabs.
 13. The mattress and bolster of claim 11 and furthercomprising an inflatable top air chamber disposed above the top of theleft and right side bolsters respectively, the top air chamber creatinga heightened bolster for assisting in keeping a person from rolling overthe bolster and off of the mattress.
 14. The mattress and bolster ofclaim 11 and further comprising a strap for securing the left and rightside bolsters against the left and right long sides respectively of themattress frame.
 15. The mattress and bolster of claim 14 wherein themattress frame further comprises a mattress frame bottom and wherein thestrap has one end attached to the mattress frame long side and the otherend attached to the mattress frame bottom.
 16. The mattress and bolsterof claim 14 wherein the strap has one end attached to the mattress framelong side and the other end is attached to the tab extending from theair cell.
 17. The mattress and bolster of claim 11 wherein there are apair of tabs extending out from each end of the air cells, with one ofthe tabs being an upper tab and the other being a lower tab, each tabpassing through a hole in the bolster and then being secured to theframe by means of the fastening mean.
 18. The mattress and bolster ofclaim 13 and further comprising separate air inlet valves forindividually inflating the left and right side bolsters, the air cellsand the top air chamber to achieve the desired air pressure in each ofthe left side bolster, the right side bolster, the top air chambers andair cells.
 19. The mattress and bolster of claim 12 wherein thefastening means and complementary fastening means comprise snaps andsnap posts.